Method and apparatus for managing digital files

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of associating digital tags with digital files comprises storing a plurality of digital files having embedded therein content data and metadata including tags; receiving, via a user interface device of a client device, a first tag label containing alphanumeric text created and inputted by a user of the client device; modifying, using a controller device, a selected first one of the tags of the metadata in a first of the digital files to include the first tag label; receiving, via the user interface device or another user interface device, an instruction to search for all of the digital files having at least the first tag label; responsive to receiving the instruction, automatically searching for all of the digital files having at least the first tag label; and displaying, on a video display device associated with the client device, a first indication of the first tag label.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 responsive to a first input, causing a map view to be displayed on an interface, the map view including:
 (i) an interactive map; 
 (ii) a first location selectable thumbnail image at a first location on the interactive map; and 
 (iii) a second location selectable thumbnail image at a second location on the interactive map; 
 
 responsive to an input that is indicative of a selection of the first location selectable thumbnail image, causing a first location view to be displayed on the interface, the first location view including (i) a first location name associated with the first location and (ii) a representation of at least a portion of one digital file in a first set of digital files, each of the digital files in the first set of digital files being produced from outputs of one or more digital imaging devices, the first set of digital files including digital files associated with the first location; 
 responsive to an input that is indicative of a selection of the second location selectable thumbnail image, causing a second location view to be displayed on the interface, the second location view including (i) a second location name associated with the second location and (ii) a representation of at least a portion of one digital file in a second set of digital files, each of the digital files in the second set of digital files being produced from outputs of the one or more digital imaging devices, the second set of digital files including digital files associated with the second location; and 
 responsive to a second input that is subsequent to the first input, causing a people view to be displayed on the interface, the people view including:
 (i) a first person selectable thumbnail image including a representation of a face of a first person, the first person being associated with a third set of digital files including digital photographs and videos; 
 (ii) a first name associated with the first person, the first name being displayed adjacent to the first person selectable thumbnail image; 
 (iii) a second person selectable thumbnail image including a representation of a face of a second person, the second person being associated with a fourth set of digital files including digital photographs and videos; and 
 (iv) a second name associated with the second person, the second name being displayed adjacent to the second person selectable thumbnail image. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the map view further includes a first indication feature associated with the first location selectable thumbnail image, the first indication feature being based on a number of digital files in the first set of digital files. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first indication feature is connected to the first location selectable thumbnail image. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first indication feature includes a first number indicative of the number of digital files in the first set of digital files. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the map view further includes a second indication feature associated with the second location selectable thumbnail image, the second indication feature being based on a number of digital files in the second set of digital files. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second indication feature is connected to the second location selectable thumbnail image. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second indication feature includes a second number indicative of the number of digital files in the second set of digital files. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, subsequent to the map view being displayed on the interface, responsive to an input that is indicative of zooming in on the interactive map, modifying the first indication feature. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, subsequent to the map view being displayed on the interface, responsive to an input that is indicative of zooming out on the interactive map, modifying the first indication feature. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, subsequent to the map view being displayed on the interface, responsive to an input that is indicative of a filter selection, modifying the first indication feature. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location selectable thumbnail image is a first collection cover image and wherein the second location selectable thumbnail image is a second collection cover image that is different than the first collection cover image. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location selectable thumbnail image includes a representation of at least one of the digital files in the first set of digital files, and wherein the second location selectable thumbnail image includes a representation of at least one of the digital files in the second set of digital files. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the representation of the at least a portion of the one digital file in the first set of digital files is not overlaid on the interactive map, and wherein the representation of the at least a portion of the one digital file in the second set of digital files is not overlaid on the interactive map. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location view includes a representation of at least a portion of all of the digital files in the first set of digital files and the second location view includes a representation of at least a portion of all of the digital files in the second set of digital files. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to an input that is indicative of a selection, in the first location view, of the representation of the at least a portion of the one digital file in the first set of digital files, causing a first digital file to be displayed on the interface; and 
 responsive to an input that is indicative of a selection, in the second location view, of the representation of the at least a portion of the one digital file in the second set of digital filed, causing a second digital file to be displayed on the interface. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving alphanumeric text as a tag; 
 associating the tag with a first digital file in the first set of digital files; 
 receiving a request to export the first digital file; and 
 responsive to receiving the request to export, exporting the first digital file by causing the first digital file to be communicated along with the tag. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving the first input, causing the interface to display a plurality of selectable elements, the plurality of selectable elements including a location selectable element and a people selectable element, wherein the first input is indicative of a selection of the location selectable element, and wherein the second input is indicative of a selection of the people selectable element. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising responsive to an input that is indicative of a selection of the first person selectable thumbnail image, causing a first person view to be displayed on the interface, the first person view including (i) the first name and (ii) a representation of each digital file in the third set of digital files. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising responsive to an input that is indicative of a selection of the second person selectable thumbnail image, causing a second person view to be displayed on the interface, the second person view including (i) the second name and (ii) a representation of each digital file in the fourth set of digital files.